CH237 - CH238

CH237

Though the chieftain of Strange Valley had his doubts, the bloodline aura couldn't be faked.

For elves, bloodline was the most powerful proof of identity.

Unless Helag was some illegitimate child, which was still not something the chieftain could question—such matters were for the royal family to handle internally.

After Bain and the guard left, Helag spoke, "I'm here regarding Shatia."

"Princess Shatia…" The chieftain fell into thought.

Ever since Shatia had been taken by the wizards, all elven tribes had been informed.

The royal family had ordered them to search for any clues about Shatia's whereabouts.

If Shatia was found, they were to bring her back to the World Tree Mother Tree at all costs.

"We've been keeping an eye out for any news of Princess Shatia, but we haven't found any valuable leads," the chieftain sighed.

"Shatia is most likely in the Wizard Plane by now, so it's normal that you haven't found anything," Helag explained.

Shatia had been captured when visiting a small tribe whose World Tree had been tampered with by wizards. The entire tribe had been wiped out, and Shatia was taken along with them.

The royal family had deduced that Shatia had likely fallen into the hands of the wizards.

However, this information hadn't been made public, likely because the royal family didn't want the wizards to find out.

The chieftain was surprised but then nodded, "I see. So, Prince Sebas, you're here because of the wizards in Oberstein?"

"Not entirely, but I'm hoping to find a breakthrough there. The wizard base in Oberstein hasn't been established for long, so it might offer an opportunity," Helag said.

"We've already sent a team there. Prince Sebas, we'll do our best to deal with the wizards," the chieftain said solemnly.

"Good. Be cautious. Wizards are powerful and cunning, so take them seriously," Helag warned.

Then, he turned and asked, "By the way, how much World Tree sap do you have left?"

World Tree sap was an incredibly rare treasure produced by the World Tree, with only three to five drops being produced every hundred years.

One drop of World Tree sap could extend a person's lifespan by 300 years.

It also increased mental strength and enhanced a spellcaster's magical power.

However, each person could only consume one drop in their lifetime—any more would have no effect.

Even so, it was a treasure sought after by countless people.

After all, consuming just one drop meant gaining 300 years of life.

Because of its rarity, most of the sap was consumed within the elven tribes, with almost none ever leaving their lands.

Such a precious item was never given to outsiders.

When Helag had first heard about it from Shatia, he had been eager to get his hands on a drop.

The mental strength boost was nice, but the 300-year lifespan was the real prize.

The chieftain replied, "We have 50 drops in storage. Does Prince Sebas need some?"

"Yes, prepare 10 drops for me. I have a use for them," Helag said calmly.

The chieftain didn't question it. In his mind, Prince Sebas wouldn't need the sap for himself.

Since the prince was adventuring incognito, he must have a specific purpose for the sap, and the chieftain was happy to help.

The 50 drops of World Tree sap had been accumulated over a long period.

Whenever someone in the elven tribe performed great deeds or showed exceptional talent, they were rewarded with a drop of the sap.

"Please wait a moment, Prince Sebas. I'll retrieve it for you."

The chieftain walked toward the World Tree, where there was a tunnel leading beneath it.

He disappeared into the tunnel and returned a short while later, carrying an ancient wooden box.

The box was small and unassuming, but it exuded an ancient aura.

The chieftain opened the box, revealing ten green leaves inside. The leaves were translucent, almost like jade.

Helag glanced at them, maintaining a calm demeanor as he casually placed the box into his space ring.

After securing the World Tree sap, Helag said, "If you can capture any wizards alive, do so. We need to gather more information about them. We still know too little."

The chieftain nodded, "Rest assured, Prince Sebas. We've prepared a substantial force to deal with the wizards in Oberstein. When we defeat them, we'll keep some alive for interrogation."

The chieftain seemed confident, though he had never actually faced a wizard in battle and didn't fully understand their power.

Helag nodded, "Good. Just be careful. I need to leave now. My cover as a human adventurer will be blown if I stay too long."

"Prince Sebas, you're leaving already… Very well. Should I send some people to guard you in secret?" the chieftain offered.

He genuinely wanted to keep Helag around longer to strengthen their relationship.

Opportunities to interact with a royal elf were rare.

But given the circumstances, the chieftain knew he couldn't keep the prince from his duties.

Still, he couldn't do nothing, so he offered to send guards to protect Helag.

The safety of a royal elf was paramount, especially within his jurisdiction. If anything happened to Prince Sebas, the entire Strange Valley would face the wrath of the royal family.

However, Helag had no intention of letting the chieftain send anyone to guard him. That would only complicate things.

He shook his head, "No need. Don't complicate things by adding unnecessary trouble."

Seeing Helag's firm stance, the chieftain didn't press the issue and relented.

"Then allow me to escort you, Prince Sebas."

Since Helag was leaving, the chieftain naturally wanted to personally see him off.

Helag waved dismissively, "No need for all that. I know the way. I'm leaving now, and don't send anyone to follow me."

"Uh… Very well. Safe travels, Prince Sebas."

The chieftain, seeing Helag's impatience, didn't dare say more and watched as the prince walked away.

As Helag slowly departed, the other elves only dared to bow from a distance, not approaching him.

He gradually left the rows of wooden houses behind, drawing closer to the forest.

By now, there was no one else around.

Helag continued to use his deep blue environment detection, ensuring that no one was secretly observing him.

He felt no sense of being watched.

The chieftain wouldn't dare spy on him—that would be a grave insult to a royal elf.

Helag walked casually, as if taking a leisurely stroll, and crouched down to touch a wildflower on the ground.

At the same time, a small red crystal silently slipped from his loose sleeve, merging into the earth and disappearing without a trace.

CH238The red crystal was the teleportation marker, and its usage was simple.

By infusing it with magic and placing it on the ground, it would automatically merge into the earth.

The entire process was quick and silent, without any noticeable disturbance.

Helag glanced at the ground beneath his feet—there was no visible change.

Unless the elves meticulously searched every inch of this area, it would be nearly impossible to detect the teleportation marker.

Helag discreetly placed all three teleportation markers without drawing any attention.

Two were placed on the ground, and one inside a large rock.

Throughout the process, Helag acted naturally, without showing any signs of suspicion, even though no one was watching him.

In the time it took for a casual stroll, Helag had completed Parker's mission.

The three teleportation markers were positioned outside the forest, allowing for a direct bypass of the forest's defenses during the teleportation.

When the elves of Strange Valley were caught off guard, they would undoubtedly face a devastating blow.

Helag followed the path through the forest and exited.

As he approached the wooden gate, it automatically opened.

After stepping through, the gate closed behind him.

He looked up at the sky. It was already night, and the town's streetlights were lit. In the distance, the faint sounds of a lively tavern could be heard.

Helag reverted to his human form, shedding his elven disguise, and began walking toward the inn.

He hadn't gone far when a shadowy figure approached from a corner.

Helag had noticed him long before and asked, "What are you doing here?"

It was Bain, who hurried over, bowing obsequiously. "Bain greets Prince Sebas."

Helag immediately slapped him on the head. "What prince? Don't speak nonsense, or you'll face the consequences."

Bain quickly realized his mistake. The prince had disguised himself as a human, and Bain's words could have exposed him.

Panicking, Bain stammered, "M-my lord, I'm sorry! I misspoke."

"Do you have business with me? If not, don't bother me," Helag said impatiently.

Bain smiled obsequiously, "My lord, this is a small token of my appreciation. It also includes the ten gold coins you gave me earlier."

Helag glanced at the heavy lockbox Bain was holding, filled with gold coins and jewels.

Naturally, there was no reason to refuse money being handed to him.

"Alright, I'll be going now."

Helag took the box and stored it in his space ring, then turned to leave.

Bain quickly added, "My lord, I didn't know the Ruby Chamber was connected to you earlier. I apologize for the offense. I'll make up for it right away and provide some compensation."

Helag scolded him, "Idiot! Don't do anything unnecessary, and don't let anyone know you know me. I'm just an adventurer escorting the caravan, understand?"

"Don't try to be clever."

Helag's cold tone sent a shiver down Bain's spine, and sweat broke out on his back.

Bain, eager to please, finally realized he had almost made a huge mistake.

Since the prince had gone to such lengths to disguise himself as a human, revealing his identity would be disastrous.

If Bain had suddenly compensated the Ruby Chamber for the salted meat and offered additional reparations, it would have raised too many suspicions.

Bain was relieved he hadn't acted yet. Otherwise, he would have ruined everything.

Cold sweat dripped from his forehead as he realized how close he had come to disaster.

If he had messed up the prince's plans, not even ten lives would have been enough to save him.

While Bain was still trembling with fear, Helag had already walked away, leaving only his silhouette behind.

It wasn't until Helag had completely disappeared from view that Bain let out a sigh of relief.

The pressure from being in the presence of Prince Sebas was overwhelming, especially after realizing he had said and done the wrong things.

Fortunately, the prince seemed intent on keeping his identity hidden, so Bain was spared any punishment.

As Helag left the area near the fence, the streets became more crowded, and the atmosphere grew livelier.

The area near the fence was always quiet, as no one dared to approach it.

When Helag returned to the inn and opened the door, Reese immediately jumped into his arms, wrapping herself around his neck.

Helag effortlessly lifted her up.

"The mission is complete," Helag said.

Reese, surprised, asked, "Already?"

Helag nodded, "Yes, it's done. In a few days, we'll head back with the Ruby Chamber's caravan. Once we return to Nightfall City, we'll make our way back to the Lim Mountain Range. By then, it'll be almost a year."

Reese smiled, "So, I'll be able to enter the Land of Dawn with you?"

She didn't ask how Helag had completed the mission.

If Helag didn't tell her, he had his reasons. If he wanted her to know, he would have said something. She wouldn't pry.

"At this rate, it seems likely," Helag replied with a smile.

The two held each other tightly, and the atmosphere quickly became intimate as their bodies brushed against one another.

Reese's eyes became seductive, her lips parting slightly…

***

A few days later, Helag, Reese, and David joined the Ruby Chamber's caravan for the return journey.

With fewer goods to transport, the caravan moved much faster.

Twenty days later, they arrived back in Nightfall City.

"Mr. Helag, thank you for your escort over the past few weeks. We'll likely set out again in a month. If you're available, feel free to visit the Ruby Chamber," Ladoye said, offering an additional thirty gold coins as a gesture of goodwill.

Helag replied, "If we're not on another mission by then, I'd be happy to work with the Ruby Chamber again."

It was just a polite response.

By then, they would no longer be in Nightfall City, but there was no need to mention that to Ladoye.

After parting ways with the Ruby Chamber, Reese asked, "Helag, are we taking the same route back?"

"Yes, we'll retrace our steps. We don't know what the situation is like elsewhere."

Though there were other routes, they hadn't traveled them before and didn't know what troubles they might encounter.

Sticking to the familiar path would reduce the number of unknown risks.

They had been in the Elven Plane for ten months now, and by the time they returned to Base 27, they would have about a month left.

Helag's priority was to ensure the three of them could safely return to the Wizard Plane and secure their entry into the Land of Dawn.

Taking the same route back was the safest option, as taking unfamiliar paths could lead to unexpected dangers.

The situation in Oberstein was likely becoming more tense, with the elves already sending reinforcements.

Taking other routes could risk running into them.

After spending a day in Nightfall City to restock on supplies, the three of them left the city early the next morning, beginning their journey back the way they had come.